MULTAN: Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) of Customs Multan impounded eight smuggled foreign non-duty paid vehicles worth Rs 15million during the month of December.
According to details, Deputy Collector Muhammad Ali Malik has adopted comprehensive strategy against smuggled vehicles in Multan. ASO started action on prior information against smuggled vehicles at different locations of Dera Ghazi Khan, Sadiqabad and Multan. ASO responded vibrantly on all received information by conducting raids at various places where smuggled vehicles were found and seized. All these sized vehicles includes double cabin Toyota, Picasso, Toyota Feilder, SuzukiVitz and others.
During the physical examination of all the seized imported vehicles, the ASO team could not found any relevant documents nor the owner’s identity was ascertained. The ASO team also inquired from driver of the vehicle or possession holder of the vehicles to present legal dcouments regarding possession of vehicle but they failed to present any documents in this regard.
ASO have completed all the legal formalities before seizing all these above said vehicles in various opeartions of the teams. ASO have brought all seized 11 vehicles in the Customs House, Multan. It is necessary to mention here that even after the maturity of the detention period, neither the owners of the any vehicles came forward to claim the ownership of the seized vehicles nor the import documents were received by ASO.
Lastly, two vehicles are still in the possession of Border Military Police and Customs have applied for their custody which will be handed over to them very soon after exercising legal requirement. All these eight seized vehicles were smuggled and brought in the country through illegitimate channels without payment of duty and taxes whereas the seized vehicles have been deposited in the State Warehouse Multan. Further investigations are still underway to arrest the accused persons for smuggling of these vehicles.
It may be recalled that a large scale reshuffling was carried out at Multan Customs in which Deputy Collector Dr.Muhammad Ali Malik have been given charge on the direction of Multan Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich and since then smugglers are being dealt with iron hands in the jurisdiction.
